There is nothing wrong with the imaam reading from the Mus-haf* (held in his hands) whilst
praying

Question

Assalamu-'alayka
I was wondering about praying salah while reading the quraan (the book in your hands).
We have a congregation here and no body has memorized the full Quraan in our community.
So, instead, the imam is reading the quraan in his hands during Taraweeh. I heard that
this is haraam according to some Hanafi Jurists, and might be makrooh according to others.
Sould we just pray the salah with what we know (have memorized)? Please respond urgently
to this question, and translate it to English soon also, inshaa-Allaah. Barakallaahu feek.

Answer

Praise be to Allaah.

Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his Saheeh:

Chapter on a slave or freed slave leading the prayer:
Aaishah used to be led in prayer by her slave Dhakwaan whilst he was holding
the Mus-haf. (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Adhaan).

Ibn Hijr (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in

Fath
al-Baari Sharh ala Saheeh al-Bukhaari (his commentary on Saheeh al-Bukhaari): The phrase Aaishah used to be Abu
Dawood completed the chain of narration in Kitaab al-Masaahif, via Ayyoob
from Ibn Abi Maleekah, who said that Aaishah used to be led in prayer by her
slave Dhakwaan whilst he was holding the Mus-haf (the Quraan). The chain of narration was
also completed by Ibn Abi Shaybah, who said: Wakee told us from Hishaam ibn
Urwah from Abu Bakr ibn Abi Maleekah that Aaishah freed a slave she
owned he used to lead her in prayer during Ramadaan, holding the Mus-haf.

If the imaam or a person who is praying alone recites from memory, this
is better, but if he reads from the Mus-haf, there is nothing wrong with it. And Allaah
knows best.

* (Translators note) Mus-haf: a written or printed copy of the Quraan.